The lesson from Vaartbroek: building begins with trust

In Eindhoven, we talk a lot about building, densifying, and accelerating. And rightly so, because the pressure on the housing market is enormous. But too often it seems as if we have to choose between speed and care. As if asking critical questions automatically means being against new housing. That is a false contradiction.

A full public gallery in the city hall council chamber during the discussion about Vaartbroek’s future.

The ambition to build more homes is one we all share. But we can only achieve that ambition if we do it together with residents. If we are honest about our plans, handle interests with care, and, as a government, show that we are trustworthy. In Vaartbroek, all of this has been lacking.

The residents of Vaartbroek have been raising concerns for more than a year. They worry about how the plans for their neighborhood are being made and understandably so. These plans affect their homes, their living environment, their future. Yet these residents are not against building. On the contrary, they have gone to great lengths to think constructively. They have written proposals, offered alternatives, and even identified 21 potential development sites within their own neighborhood. That says everything about their commitment.

But where residents have taken responsibility, the municipality has failed to do so. Processes moved too quickly, information was incomplete, and genuine participation never took place. As a result, distrust has emerged a distrust that the city itself has created.

What Vaartbroek teaches us is that densification isn’t just about stacking bricks it’s about people. It’s about how we deal with trust and influence. About whether we see residents as a burden or as partners.

Eindhoven can and must build but not at the expense of care, not at the expense of its residents. Because if we don’t include them, we actually slow down the very process we want to accelerate.

It’s time we learn from this. By committing to fair participation, transparent decision-making, and strong direction from the municipality. Only then can we truly build homes and only then can we build trust.